Objections by neighbours to key worker tower block

Domaine des Moulins, on the former CI Tyres site, would contain one-bed key-worker flats.

An open planning meeting is being held next week to decide the scheme.

Ahead of that the planners have released their planning report, recommending the project is approved.

There were 22 letters of representation, the majority of which came from parties connected with La Charroterie Mills apartments, which is across the road from the site.

Charroterie Mills, which was built in the 1990s, has about 90 flats, but is lower.

CM Management Company, which is the holding and management company for Charroterie Mills, was concerned about the scale of the project.

‘The outcome of this planning application is a vastly greater development than ever previously approved on the property,’ the company stated.

‘At 10 storeys [it will] sit above all surrounding built forms, overbear neighbouring properties, overbear two directly adjacent protected buildings, re-engineer area of biodiversity importance land, important open land and tree protection order land and overdevelop the property.’

They added that this would be a ‘direct and permanent intrusion of the conservation area’ and it did not respect adjacent protected buildings.

They stated this would be an over-development of the site and the nearby 11-storey 1960s tower block Cour du Parc, also owned by the Guernsey Housing Association, should not be a precedent.

There were 15 letters from owners or occupiers of the apartments. Two were generally in favour, but raised concerns around parking and the number of homes proposed.

The other 13 objected, raising concerns about the height of the building, loss of light and green views, over-development, increased traffic, overlooking and overshadowing.

Five further letters stated this would help Guernsey’s housing problems, but raised concerns, describing the plan for just 20 parking spaces for 57 flats as a serious flaw.

The majority of St Peter Port douzaine voted that the proposed application was acceptable but some reservations were expressed, such as the lack of light for the flats against the cliff face and the lack of parking.

The National Trust of Guernsey supported the application, stating that the charity has long thought that building higher units in St Peter Port was preferable to building on greenfield sites outside the urban areas.

Guernsey Architects’ Panel felt that high density, high-rise development was appropriate to the site.

The planners noted that this site would be key workers and this would help meet housing targets.

‘In total, it is estimated that in the region of 1,000 units of affordable housing are required over the next five years if Guernsey is to meet its housing requirements in these tenures,’ it was stated in the report.

‘The provision of one-bedroom units reflects the predominant requirements in this sector.’

The planners said they had balanced the harm of the development against the benefits.

‘In this case the development will contribute to social and economic goals as well as the vitality of a Main Centre. It is considered that the benefits will outweigh the harm.’

It was also felt the loss of privacy or shading of the neighbouring properties was considered acceptable in the urban context.

Meeting details

The open planning meeting is taking place in the Saumarez Room at Beau Sejour at 2.15pm on Tuesday.

The public can watch, but only people who have applied in advance and previously submitted a representation can speak.